Conveyer for cotton-bales, &amp;c.



No. 644,650. Patented Mar. 6, 1900. S. J. WEBB.

CONVEYER FOR COTTON BALES, 8L0.

(Application filed. Apr. 2, 1898.) v (No Model.) 2 ShaetsSheet l,

I mum mom No. 644,650. Patented Mar. 6 I900. S. J. WEBB.

CONVEYER FOR COTTON BALES, 8L0.

- (Application filed Apr. 2, 1898,.

@No Model.) 2 $heets-Sheet 2.

w F' A UNITED STATES PATENT QFFTCE,

SAMUEL J. \VEBB, OF MINDEN, LOUISIANA.

CONVEYER FOR COTTON-BALES, 81.0.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 644,650, dated IVIarch 6, 1900,

Application filed April 2, 1898. $erial No. 676,244. (No model.)

T on whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL J. WVEBB, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minden, in the parish of Webster and State of Louisiana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Conveyers for Cotton-Bales, &c., of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of apparatus employed in warehouses, upon piers, &c., for facilitating the loading or unloading and shifting and storage of heavy packages and materials; and my invention consists of a conveyer for such apparatus constructed to permit the ready elevation of the load and to be propelled by the descent of the load, as fully set forth hereinafter and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side view showing part of a warehouse-track and my improved conveyer; Fig. 2, an end View of the conveyor on the track; Fig. 3, a detailed view showing the governor or speed-control device; Fig. 4, a transverse section through part of the gears.

A carriage A of any suitable construction is provided with wheels for running upon either a single or double track 3. As shown, there is a single track 3, and the carriage has a frame in which are mounted bearings for the main grooved wheel and two grooved guide-wheels. In the lower part of the frame is journaled a shaft 7, upon which is a small sprocket-wheel 8, over which passes a chain 4, having at one end a grapple, platform, or basket 9, suitably constructed to either grip or support the article to be moved and at the other end a counterweight of about the same weight as the part 9. Upon the shaft 7 is a pulley 1, over which passes an endless chain 2, which may be gripped to rotate the shaft and by this means lift the load connected with the part 9.

The apparatus is so constructed that after the load has been lifted by drawing on the chain 4: to a proper height the weight of its load will rotate the shaft 7 and from the latter, through suitable means, will drive the shaft or axle 12 of one of the wheels of the carriage-as, for instance, the wheel 5. As shown, a toothed wheel 13 upon the shaft 7 engages a pinion 14 upon the shaft 12.

It is of course necessary that when the chain 4 is drawn upon to lift the load the drivingwheel 5 of the carriage shall not be rotated, and I therefore inter-pose any suitable clutch connection between the parts which will permit the load to be lifted and the parts connected therewith to be moved without turning the driving-wheel 5. One means of securing this result consists in mounting the toothed wheel 13 loosely upon the shaft 7 and connecting the pulley 1 thereon by means of a 'feather, which will permit the said pulley to slide on the shaft, and applying a nut 15 to the outer threaded end of the shaft in such way that by tightening the nut the hub of the pulley 1 is pressed against the side of the toothed wheel 13 to force the latter against the shoulder 16 on the shaft 7 and bind it thereto. By turning the nut 15 in the opposite direction the pressure is released and the shaft 7 can be turned without turning the toothed wheel 13. When the carriage is at such a height that the nut 15 cannot be reached by hand, I prefer to make the latter in the form of a pulley with a groove to re- "ceive a light endless chain 17, by means of which the nut may be turned from any position below the carriage. As thus constructed the load is connected with the part 9, and the nut 15 being loosened the chain 2 is manipulated to lift the load to the desired height.- The nut 15 is then turned to clamp the toothed wheel 13 to the shaft, and upon releasing the apparatus the weight of the load will in descending turn the shaft 7 and through the intermediate gears drive the shaft 12 and the wheel 5, so as to automatically move the carriage along the track 3.

When the carriage reaches its destination, it is arrested by an operator, who seizes one of the chains or pendent parts, then manipulates the chain 17, so as to loosen the nut, when the weight of the load will cause it to descend.

I11 order to prevent too rapid a descent of the load, the attendant has merely to exerta certain resistance upon the chain 2.

In order to prevent too rapid a movement of the carriage, I combine with the same any suitable governing device. two Weights 18 18 are pivoted to one side of the wheel 5 and within an annular track 19, carried by the frame, a spring 20 tending to For instance draw the weights radially inward. If the wheel 5 rotates too rapidly, the weigh ts fi yin g out and making contact with the inner surface of the track 19 will exert suflicient friction to prevent too rapid a movement of the carriage.

While I have referred to the chain and pulley as being on the shaft '7, itwill be evident that the shaft might be provided with a drum or that a chain or cable of any character might be wound upon the shaft in lifting the load.

In the construction shown the weight of the parts upon one side of the frame is counterbalanced by means of a weight W, extending from an arm at the opposite side of the frame.

Vithout limiting myself to the precise construction and arrangement of parts, I claim as my invention 1. The combination of a carrier provided with a driving-wheel and with a shaft 7, means for turning the driving-wheel on the rotation .of said shaft, means for disconnecting the driving-wheel from the shaft, and a cable for supporting the load connected to turn the said shaft, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a carrier provided with a driving-wheel, shaft 7, and a supporting-chain connected therewith, gears between the shaft and the driving-wheel, and means for disconnecting said gears to permit the independent rotation of the shaft, substantially as set forth.

The combination of a carrier provided with a driving-wheel, shaft 7,1oad-supporting chain connected therewith, a loose gear upon the shaft connected with the driving-wheel, and means for connecting said gear with the shaft, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with a carrier, drivingwheel, driving shaft and cable connected therewith to support the load, of a pulley 1, a chain turning the shaft to lift the load, and means for connecting the shaft with and disconnecting it from the d riving-wheel, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with a carrier provided with a driving-wheel and pinion therefor, of a shaft mounted in the same, a sprocket-Wheel carried on said shaft, a pulley mounted on the shaft and a toothed wheel also mounted on said shaft and engaging the pinion to rotate the driving-wheel, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL J. XVEBB.

Witnesses:

W. CLARENCE DUVALL, PAUL W. STEVENS. 

